WorkAbility Movement Screen
Musculoskeletal diseases affect more than one out of two working age adults. Unfortunately, most workplace wellness programs and annual physical exams fail to objectively measure musculoskeletal risks and provide guidance for suitable physical activity. As a result, workers often make poor healthcare choices when engaging in physical activity or searching for solutions to alleviate musculoskeletal symptoms such as back pain.
We approach movement health promotion by coupling our innovative WorkAbility Movement Screen with individualized Lifestyle Fitness Coaching (when indicated) to reduce movement deficits or obesity. This respects social distancing, provides for flexible appointment scheduling, and reduces workplace productivity disruptions and administrative burden for employers, compared to traditional workplace wellness events.
Workers may schedule a 30-minute appointment that is administered in a private room to minimize workplace disruptions. This may be conducted in person or virtually with social distancing. Usual measures include:
- Body Size Measures to determine Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist-to-Height (WtH) ratio.
- Resting Vital Signs for seated heart rate, oxygen saturation, blood pressure, and pain.
- Active Movement Scale (AMS) rates ability to do 14 movements such as reaching, standing on one leg, bending, kneeling, and squatting as a screen for flexibility, balance, strength and coordination.
- Two Square Agility Test (TSAT) is a timed test of stepping back and forth to assess agility/fall risk.
This is followed by an interactive discussion of recent physical activities and barriers to physical fitness. Participants receive immediate feedback with an individual fitness report of objective findings and follow-up recommendations to promote healthy physical activity and reduce musculoskeletal risks. Sponsoring employers receive a participant list and de-identified group report to evaluate workforce fitness needs, and support employer incentives for wellness programs.
Lifestyle fitness coaching
Workers with musculoskeletal movement deficits, symptoms, or obesity may participate in a 3-month program of virtual fitness coaching to promote healthy physical activity, self-manage symptoms, and diet management.
- This intervention is designed to facilitate a healthy lifestyle culture in the workplace.
- Coaching may be accessed at optimal times and methods (text, email, telefitness) for the worker.
- Our coaches use an activity app to drive worker engagement in movement and weight loss goals..
- Coaching may facilitate coordination of care with other health professionals to reduce work disability, healthcare over-utilization, or medical complications such as addiction, with worker authorization.
- WorkAbility Movement Screen is re-administered after program is completed to measure progress.
The services described above are intended to improve employer return on investment in wellness programs by reducing work-related or off-the-job musculoskeletal injuries, lost productivity and healthcare costs
Telehealth Musculoskeletal Triage
Physical Activity Barriers: Employees with musculoskeletal concerns don’t know how to best manage their symptoms and transition to healthy physical activity. This contributes to a sedentary lifestyle, healthcare overutilization, and medical complications such as addiction.
- A physical therapist will complete a brief telehealth consult with the worker to document musculoskeletal concerns, barriers to physical activity, and follow-up recommendations to promote self-management of symptoms and physical activity.
- This service is a workplace wellness benefit to provide workers with a confidential telehealth option to report musculoskeletal complaints or difficulties in response to work or leisure activities. The worker receives a confidential telehealth visit report.
- This may be done as a stand-alone service or provided as a follow-up to address abnormal findings during a WorkAbility Movement Screen of musculoskeletal fitness.
Return On Investment (ROI)
- Monitor and inspire physical fitness for less than one-third of the cost for a traditional biometric screening.
- This movement screen contains more relevant measures about risk factors for falls or musculoskeletal disorders.
- Screen may be administered within a small work space.
PhysicalFIT Employment Screen
Establishing the physical qualifications of job qualifications is a key step to identifying suitable employment opportunities.
A WorkerFIT Physical Screen (WPS) is an objective screen of musculoskeletal health and materials handling strength. This screen is usually administered at the start of a job search process. It establishes a baseline certification of physical health to assess readiness for physical work activities. The WPS includes measures of:
- Vitals (seated heart rate and blood pressure)
- Body size (weight, height, and abdominal girth)
- Quick screen of active movement flexibility
- Grip/pinch/pull strength
- Agility/dynamic balance
- Job-specific lift/carry tests
The Worker Search feature of WorkerFIT provides employers with the option to search for applicants that meet for specific job strength and mobility levels that are required for successful job performance. All workers that are cleared for employment are provided with a report card of their physical qualifications. Low risk or “fit” persons will receive positive encouragement to maintain their current fitness level, whereas higher risk persons will be encouraged to participate in appropriate fitness options to prepare for more physically demanding work.